Without speaking skills our careers stall. I started Portico – a public speaking training, coaching and design company - to make it easier to build and deliver great presentations. We’ve worked with major brands, associations, federal and local government agencies to transform speakers and teams.

My communication career began in New York at the Ruder Finn Group, one of the largest independent public relations firms in the U.S. In order to understand the business drivers behind PR, I joined AES Corp, a global power company as head of external communication. There I earned the nickname, “the engineer whisperer” for helping experts convey their message to non-technical colleagues and investors.

My formal education includes an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of California, San Diego and a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. I’m an (audio) bookworm and podcast aficionado to continue to learn (and stay sane in DC traffic).